rii 



/ 

A 

Di s cou r se 

Concerning the design'd 

ESTABLISHMENT 

Of a New 

COLONY 

TO THE 

South of Carolina^ 

IN THE 

Most delightful Country of the 
Universe. 



By Sir Robkut MouiNTGomry, Baronet, 



C30 



<>» LONDON: Printed ia the Year nn, 



p. Force, Washingtdn, 1835 



DISCOURSE 



¥ T will perhaps afford some Satisfaction to the Gentlemen o( 
* Carolina, to know, that my Design arises not from any sud- 
de 1 Motive, but a strong Bent of Genius 1 inherit from my An- 
cestors : One of whom was among those Knights of Nova Scotia 
purposely created near a hundred Years ago, for settling a Scots 
Colony in America, But the Conquest of that Country by the 
French prevented his Design, and so it lies on his Posterity to 
make good his Intentions for the Service of their Country. 

The Humour however Descended, and ran down with the 
Blood : For my Father was so far of this Opinion, that, toge- 
ther with Lord Cardross the late Earl of Buchan, and some 
other Gentlemen, he enter'd into Measures for Establishing a 
Settlement on Port-Royal River m South- Carolina, and Lord 
Cardross went thither in Person ; but the Spaniards dislodg'd 
them, and destroy'd the Plantation : Advantage being taken of 
some Confusions, which arose through the want of full Powers, 
and distinct Jurisdiction. 

The charming Descriptions, which on this last Occasion, T 
met with, of the natural Sweetness, and Beauties, of Carolina, 
inspir'd me with an early Affection to that Place, in particular. 
_But the Wars intervening, and calling for my Sword, in the more 
nnmediate Service of my Country, gave me no Opportunity to 
put in Practice certain Schemes which occur'd, effectually 
forming a Settlement there, till just now ; when together with 
some of my Friends, who unite their Endeavours with mine, I am 
like, by continuance of the Indian Disturbances, to enjoy my 
own Wish, with the Additional Pleasure of being useful to the 
Province. 

Tho' our Design does not altogether depend on the Subscrip- 
tion of Purchasers, herein propos'd, yet our own Stock so en- 
creas'd ^\^ll be made more effectual, and we shall give at the 
same TiiTie an Opportunity to many of Sharing in our Benefits, 
who cou'd not be otherwise concern'd in the Undertaking. 

If therefore, the Offer, which we make, shall meet widi Ed- 



'ik 



T- 



couragement, 'twill, by Dividing our Burthen, somewhat lighten 
it; If it fails, 'twill no further Disappoint us, than as it leaves us 
to do That alone, which might better, be done with the e.s'pected 
Assistance. 

R. MOUNTGOMRY. 



Of the Motives, and FoundatiGn of the UndertaJking. 

PLANTATIONS of new Countries, says the Great Lord 
-*- Bacon, are among the Primitive, and most Heroick Works 
y.f Man. They are meritorious in a double Sense ; Religiously, 
as they illuminate the Souls of Heathens through the Darkness 
of their Ignorance, and Politically, as they strengthen the Do- 
minion, v^fhich sends out the Colony, and wonderfully more than 
any other Means enrich the Undertakers. 

But as such Attempts are Great, so also are they Dangerous. 
One early Caution easily secures their future Benefits ; one little 
Error in Foundation overthrows the Building. It is to a Defect 
in setting out, that all our noble Colonies upon the Western 
Continent have ow'd their Disappointments ; To a tvant of due 
Precaution in tJieir Forms of Settling, or rather, to their settling 
without any Form at all : The Planters grasp'd at an undue Ex- 
tent of Land, exceeding their Capacity to manage, or defend : 
This scatter'd them to Distances unsafe, and solitary, so that, 
living in a Wilderness, incapable of mutual Aid, the necessary 
Artizans found no Encouragement to dwell among them ; Their 
Woods remain'd unclear'd ; their Fens undrain'd ; The Air by 
that Means prov'd unliealthy, and the Roads impassable ; For 
want of Towns, and Places of Defence, they suddenly became 
a Prey to all Invaders even the unformidable Indians took Ad- 
vantage of the Oversight ; and Carolina, is, at present, groaning 
under a most bloody Persecution, iiom a wild and despicable 
Kind of Enemy, who had not dar'd to think of the Attempt, but 
from an Observation daily made, how open and unguarded they 
might take the English. 

From these Examples, and the Neighbourhood of the intend- 
ed Settlement to Cnrolina thus distressed, our future Eden, 
made early wise by Dangers, which she feels not, would not only 
fix her Foot upon a firm Foundation, so as to resist a Storm 
Herself, but she wou'd also spread her Wings to a Capacity of 
Shadowing Others : A British Colony, shou'd like the Roman, 
carry with it always something of the Mothers Glory. 

Excited therefore, by an earnest Inclination to establish such 
a Settlement, as may, by new Means, yield new Benefits, as well 
in Wealth, as Safety, and resolving to proceed upon a Scheme 



entirely difTereiit from any hitherto attempled, and which appears 
to promise great, and inexpressible Advantages ; the Grant on 
which we found the Undertaking, will be seen in the following 
Abstract. 

^^''pHE underwritten Palatine ;md Lords Proprietors of the 
■• '' Province of Carolina, do on tlie Considerations herein 
" after mention'd, grant, sell, ahen, release, and confirm to Sir 
•' Robert Mountgomry, Baronet, his Heirs, and Assigns, for 
" ever, all that Tract of Land, which lies between the Rivers 
" Al/atamaha, and Savanna, together with the Islands, Ports, 
" Harbours, Bays, and Rivers on that Part of the Coast, which 
" lies between the Mouths of the said two Rivers to the Sea- 
'•' ward ; and moreover all Veins, Mines, and Quarries of Gold, 
" and Silver, and all other whatever, be they of Stones, Metals 
"■ or any other Things found, or to be found within that Tract 
'' of Land, and the Limits aforesaid ; With Liberty over and 
" above to make Settlements on the South Side of Allatamaha 
" River, which Tract of Land the said underwi'itten Lords do 
" erect into a distinct Province, with proper Jurisdictions, Pri- 
" viledges, Prerogatives, and Franchises, Independent of, and 
" not Subject to the Laws of South Carolina, to be holden of 
" the said Lords by Sir Robert, his heirs, and Assigns for ever, 
'•' under the Name and Title of the Margravatc of AziJia ; at 
'•' and under the yearly Quitrent of one Penny Sterling per 
•' Acre, or its Value in Goods, or Merchandise, as the Land 
'• shall be occupied, taken up, or run out ; Payable yearly to the 
" Lords Proprietors Ofticers at Charles-Toivn, but such Pay- 
^' ment not to commence, till three Years after Arrival of the 
"' first Ships there, which shall be sent over to begin the Set- 
•' tlement; over and above which Penny |je7- Acre, Sir Robert, 
•' his Heirs, and Assigns, shall also yield, and pay to the Lords 
" Proprietors, one fourth Part of all Gold, or Silver Oar, be- 
" sides the Quota reserv'd to the Crown out of the said Royal 
" Minerals : Distinct Courts of Judicature to be erected, and 
" such Laws enacted within the Margravatc, by and with the 
" Advice, Assent, and Approbation of the Freemen thereof in 
•' Publick Assembly, as shall be most conducive to the Utility 
" of the said Margravate, and as near as may be conveniently 
" agreeable to the Laws, and Customs of England, but so as 
•' such Laws do not extend to lay Duties or Custom, or other 
" Obstruction upon the Navigation of either of tlie said Rivers, 
'• by any Inhabitant of South, or North Carolina, or their free 
•' Commerce and Trade with the Indian Nations, either within,. 
'' or to the Southward of the Margravate, Sir Robert consenting 
" that the same Duty shall be charged on Skins within the 
'• Margravate, which at this Time stands charg'd on such Skins 
" in South Carolina, and appropriated to the Maintenance of 



the Clergy there, so long as that Duty is continued in iSouth 
Carolina, but the said Duty shall not be encreas'd in Azilia, 
the' the Assembly of South Carolina shou'd think fit to en- 
crease it there, nor shall it longer continue to be paid, than 
while it shall remain appropriated, as at present, to the Main- 
tenance of the Clergy only: In Consideration of all which 
Powers, Rights, Priviledges, Prerogatives, and Franchises, Sir 
Robert shall Transport at his own Expence, a considerable 
Number of Families with all Necessaries for making a new 
Settlement in the said Tract of Land, and in Case it be 
neglected for the Space of three Years from the Date of this 
Grant, The then Grant shall become void, any Thing herein 
contain'd to the contrary notwithstanding. Dated June the 
Nineteenth, 1717. Cartaret, Palatme. 

Ja. Bertie for tlie 

Duke of Beaufort. 

M. Ashley. 

John Colleton, ^*c. 



A Description of the Country. 

T T lies about the 31 5^ and 32<Z Degree of Northern Latitude, 
-*- is bounded Eastward by the great Atlantick Sea, To the \V est 
by a Part of the Apalachiau Mountains, and to the North and 
South by the two great Rivers, mention'd in the Grant. 

In the Maps of North America it may be taken Notice of, how 
well this Country lies for Trade with all our Colonies, and in 
Regard to every other Prospect, which can make a Situation 
healthy, profitable, lovely, and inviting ; Florida, of which it is 
a Part, receiv'd that Name from its delightful, ^orzV, and agree- 
able Appearance. 

It has been commonly observ'd, that gay Descriptions of new 
Countries raise a Doubt of their Sincerity. Men are apt to 
think the Picture drawn beyond the Life, to serve the Interest 
of the Representer : To shun the Prejudice of this Opinion, 
whatever shall be said upon the Subject here, is all extracted 
from our English Writers, who are very numerous, and univer- 
sally agree, that Carolina, and especially in its *S'oMi^er?i Bounds, 
is the most amiable Country of the Universe ; That Nature has 
not bless'd the World with any Tract, which can be preferable 
to it, that Paradise with all her Virgin Beauties, may be modest- 
ly suppos'd at most but equal to its Native Excellencies. 

It lies in the same Latitude with Palestine Herself, That 
promis'd Canaan, which was pointed out by God's own Choice, 
to bless the Labours of a favourite People ; It abounds with 
Rivers, Woods, and Meadows. Its gentle Hills are full of Mine?, 



Lead, Copper, Iron, and even some of" ^Silver ; 'Tis beautifui 
with odoriierous Plants, green all the Year. Pine, Cedar, Cy- 
press, Oak, Elm, Ash, or Walnut, with innumerable other Sorts, 
both Fruit or Timber Trees grow every where so pleasantly 
that tho' tliey meet at Top, and shade the Traveller, they are. 
at the same Time, so distant in their Bodies, and so free honi 
Underwood, or Bushes, that the Deer, and other Game, which 
feed in Droves along these Forests, may be often seen near half 
a Mile between them. 

The Air is healthy, and the Soil in general fruitful, and of 
infinite Vai'iety ; Vines, naturally flourishing upon the Hills, bear 
Grapes in most luxuriant Plenty. They have every Growth, 
which we possess in England, and almost every Thing that 
England wants besides. The Orange, and the Limon thrive in 
the same common Orchard with the Apple, and the Pear-Tree, 
Plumbs, Peaches, Apricots, and Nectarins, bear from Stones in 
three Year's growing. The Planters raise large Orchards oi' 
these Fruits to feed their Hogs with ; Wheat Ears have been 
measur'd there seven Inches long, and they have Barly, Beans, 
Pease, Rice, and all our Grains, Roots, Herbs, and Flowers not 
to speak of Numbers of their own, which we can find no Names 
for; Beef, Mutton, Pork, Tame Poultry, Wild Fowl, Sea and 
River Fish, are all there Plentiful, and most at lower Rates, than 
in the cheapest Parts of Wales, or Scotland. 

The many Lakes, and pretty Rivulets throughout the Pro- 
vince, breed a Multitude of Geese, and other Water Fowl ; The 
Air is found so temperate, and the Seasons of the Year so very 
regular, that there is no Excess of Heat, or Cold, nor any sud- 
den Alterations in the Weather ; The River Banks are cover'd 
with a strange Variety of lovely Trees, which being always 
green, present a thousand Landskips to the Eye, so fine, and so 
diversified, that the Sight is entirely charm'd with them ; the 
Ground lies sloping towards the Rivers, but, at a Distance rises 
gradually, and intermingles like Hills of Wood with fruitful 
Plains, all cover'd over with wild Flowers, and not a Tree to 
interrupt the Prospect : Nor is this tempting Country yet inha- 
bited, except those Parts in the Possession of the English, unless 
by here and there a Tribe of wandering Indians, wild and igno- 
rant, all artless, and uncultivated, as the Soil, which fosters them. 



Of the Form proposed in Settling. 

|~| UR Meaning here relates to what immediate Measures will 
^-^ be taken, for Security against the Insults of the Natives, 
during the Infancy of our Affairs; To which End we shall not 



satisfie ourselves with building here and there a Fort, the fatal 
Practice of America, but so dispose the Habitations, and Divi- 
sions of the Land, that not alone our Houses, but whatever we 
possess, will be enclos'd by Military Lines, inipregnable against 
the Savages, and which will make our wliole Plantation one 
continued Fortress. 

It need not be suppos'd, that all the Lands will thus be forti- 
fied at once ; The first Lines drawn will be in just Proportion to 
the Number of Men they enclose ; As the Inhabitants encrease. 
New Lines will be made to enclose them also, so that all the 
People will be always safe within a well defended Lime of Cir- 
cumvallation. 

The Reader will allow, it is not necessary, that these Re- 
trenchments be of Bulk, like those of Europe ; small Defence is 
strong against the poor unskilful Natives of America; They 
have accomplish'd all their bloody Miscliiefs by Surprizes, and 
Incursions, but durst never think of a Defyance to Artillery. 

TJie Massacres, and frequent Ruins, which have fallen upon 
some English Settlements for want of this one Caution, have 
sufficiently instructed us, that Strength, producing Safety, is the 
Point, which shou'd be chiefly weigh'd in such Attempts as these ; 
Solon had Reason when he said to Crafus, looking on his Trea- 
sure — , You are rich indeed, and so far you are mighty; But 
if any Man should come with sharper steel then Yours, how 
easily iinlJ he be made the Master of your Gold ? 

At the Arrival iheretbre of the first Men carried over, proper 
Officers shall mark, and cause to be entrench'd a Square of Land, 
in just Proportion to their Number ; On the Outsides of this 
Square, within the little Bastions, or Redoubts of the Entrench- 
ment, they raise light Timber Dwellings, cutting down the Trees, 
which every where encompass them : The Officers are quarter- 
ed with the Men, whom they command, and the Governour in 
Chief is plac'd exactly in the Center: By these means the la- 
bouring People (being so dispos'd, as to be always watchful of 
an Enemies Approach) are themselves within the Eye of those, 
set over them, and All together under the Inspection of their 
Principal. 

The Redoubts may be near enough to defend Each other 
with Musquets, but Field Pieces, and Patarero's will be planted 
upon Each, kept charged with Cartridge shot, and Pieces of old 
Iron ; Within these Redoubts are the Common Dwellings of the 
Men who must defend them ; Between them runs a Palisadoe'd 
Bank, and a Ditch, which will be Scour'd by t)ie Artillery. 
One Man in Each Redoubt kept Night and Day, upon the Guard, 
will give alarm upon Occasion to the others at their Work. So 
they cultivate their Lands, Secure their Cattle, and follow their 



9 

13usiness with great Ease, and Safety. Exactly in the Centre 
el' tlie inmost Square will be a Foi't, defended by large Cannon, 
pointing Every way, and capable of making strong llesi.Hance, 
in Case some Quarter of the outward Lines shou'd chance to be 
surpriz'd, by any sudden Accident, which yet with tolerable Care 
wou'd be impracticable. 

The Nature of this Scheme, when weigh'd against the Igno- 
rance, and wildness of the Natives, will shew, that Men thus 
settled, may at once defend, and cultivate a Territory, with the 
utmost Satisfaction, and Security, even in the Heart oi' an lv:'ian 
Country, Tlien liow much rather in a Place considerably distant 
from the Savage Settlements. 

As the Numbers shall encrease, and they go on to clear more 
Space of Land, they are to regulate their Settlements with hke 
Regard to Safety, and Improvement : And indeed tlie Diilerence, 
as to Time, and Labour, is not near so great as may be thought, 
betwixt enclosing Land this Way, and following the dangerous 
common Jvlethod ; But what is here already said will serve the 
End, for which it has been wrhten, which was only to give a 
general Notion of the Care and Caution we propose to act with. 

It will not, however, be amiss, as you have seen the first rude 
Form of our Azilia in her Infancy, to view her also in the Ful- 
ness of her Beauty ; And to that End we \va\ e afhx'd a Plan of 
one whole District, clear'd, planted, and inhabited; For as the 
Country thrives, all future Townships will be form'd according to 
this Plan, and measur'd out as near Each other as the Rivers, 
Hills, and other natural Impediments will any way admit of. 

But least it shou'd be fear'd from tl.e Correctness ol this 
Model, that twill be a Work of too great Difliculty, and require a 
mighty Length of Time to bring it to perlection, we tlnik it pro- 
per to declare, that Purchasers will not be obliged to wait this 
Form of Settlement, but are entitled to the immediate Piotits of 
peculiar Lands, assign'd them, from the very first Arrival of the 
Colony ; which Lands, being set apart for t'nat Purpose, will be 
strongly enclos'd, and defended by ttie Lines, or Entrenchments 
before mention'd. 

Neither wou'd we have it thought a Labour so tedious, as 'tis 
generally fancy 'd, to establish in this manner a Colony, which 
may become not only an Advantage, hut a. Glory to the Nation: 
We have Prospects before us most attractive, and unprecedented, 
in the three tempting Points Wealth, Safety, and Liberty: Ben- 
efits, like these, can never fail of drawing Numbers of Inhabitants 
from Every Corner: And, Men once got together, 'tis as easy to 
dispose them regularly, and whh due Regard to Order, Beauty, 
and the Comforts of Society, as to leave them to the Folly of 



10 

fixing at Random, and destroying their Interest by indulging their 
Humour; So that we have more than ordinary Cause to expect, 
that in a very short Time, we shall be able to present the solid 
Life its self, as now we give the Shadoiv only, in the Ibllow- 
ing Explanation. 

You mu?t suppc^e a level, dry, and fruitful Tract of Land, in 
some fine Plain or Valley, containing a just Square of twenty 
Miles Each Way, or two hundred and fifty six thousand Acres, 
laid out, and settled, in the Form, presented, in the Cut annexed. 

The District is defended by sufficient Numbers of Men, who, 
dwelling in the fortified Angles of the Line, will be employ 'd in 
cultivating Lands, which are kept in Hand for the particular 
advantage of the Margrave ; These Lands suiTound the District 
just within the Lines, and every where contain in Breadth one 
Mile exactly. 

The Men, thus employ'd, are such, as shall be hir'd in Great 
Britain or Ireland, well disciplin'd, arm'd, and carried over, on 
Condition to serve faithfully for such a Term of Years, as they 
before shall agree to ; And, that no Man may be Avretched in so 
happy a Country, at the Expiration of those Peoples Time; 
besides some otiier considerable, and unusual Incouragements, all 
such, among them, who shall marry in the Country, or come 
married thither, shall have a Right of laying claim to a certain 
Fee-Farm, or Quantity of Land, ready clear'd, together with a 
House built upon it, and a stock sufficient to improve, and cul- 
tivate it, which they shall enjoy, Rent, and Tax free, during 
Life, as a Reward for their Services; By which Means two very 
great Advantages must naturally follow; Poor labouring Men, so 
secur'd ol" a fix'd future Settlement, will be thereby induc'd to 
go thither more willingly; and act, when there, with double 
Dilligence, and Duty ; And when their Time expires, possessing 
just Land enough to pass their Lives at Ease, and bring their 
Children up honestly, the Families they leave will prove a con- 
stant Seminary of sober Servants, of Both Sexes, for the Gentry 
of the Colony ; whereby they will be under no necessity to use 
the Dangerous Help of Blackamoors, or Indians ; The Lands 
set apart for this Purpose, are two Miles in Breadth, quite round 
the District, and lie next within the Margraves own reserv'd 
Lands abovemention'd. 

The 116 Squares, Each of which has a House in the Middle, 
are. Every one a Mile on Each Side, or 640 Acres in a Square, 
bating only for the High Ways, which divide them ; These are 
the Estates, belonging to the Gentry of the District, who, being 
so confin'd to an Equality in Land, will be profitably Emulous 
of out doing Each other in Improvement, since that is the only 



u 

wa}, left them to grow richer than theh" INeighbours; And when 
the iVlargravate is once become strong enough to form many 
Districts, the Estates will be all given gratis, together with many 
otlier benefits, to honest and qiiahiied Gentlemen in Great Bri- 
^ai/i, or elsewhere, who having Numerous and well-educated Fam- 
ihes, possess but little Fortunes, other than their Industry; and 
will tlierefore be chosen to enjoy these Advantages, which they 
shall pay no Rent, or other Consideration for; and yet the Under- 
taking will not tail to find its own Account in their Prosperity. 

Tiie four great Parks, or rather Forrests, are Each four Miles 
Sfjuare, that is Id Miles round each Forrest, in which are pro- 
pagated Herds of Catde of all Sorts by tiiemselves, not alone to 
serve the use'=; of the District, they belong to, but to store such 
^tw Ones, as may from Time to Time be measur'd out, on 
Affluence of People. 

The Middle hollow Square, which is full of Streets crossing 
each other, is the City, And the Bank, whicli runs about it, on the 
out-side surrounded witli Trees, is a large void Space, which will 
be useful for a thousand Purposes, and, among the rest, as being 
airy, and affording a fine Prospect of the Town in Drawing near 
it. 

In the Center of the City stands the Margraves House, which 
is to be his constant Residence, or the Residence of theGovern- 
our, and contains all sorts of publick Edifices for Dispatch of 
Business ; and this again is separated from the City by a Space, 
like that, which, as above, divides the Town from the Country. 



Of some Designs in View for making Profit. 

I |UR Prospects in this Point, are more entensive than we think 
it needful to discover ; It were a Shame shou'd we confine 
the Fruitfulness of such a rich and lovely Country to some single 
Product, which Example first makes common, and the heing 
common robs of Benefit. Thus Sugar in Barhadoes, Rice in 
Carolina, and Tobacco in Virginia, take u]) all the Labours of 
their People, overstock the Markets, stifle the Demand, and make 
their Industry their Ruin, merely through a Want of due Reflec- 
tion on Diversity of other Products, equally adapted to their 
Soil and Climate. 

Coffee, Tea, Figs, Raisins, Currants, Almonds, Olives, Silk, 
Wine, Cochineal, and great Variety of still more rich Commodi- 
ties, which we are forc'd to buy at mighty Rates from Coun- 
tries, lying in the very Latitude of our Plantations : All these we 
certainly shall Propagate, tho' it may Perhaps be said, that they 
are yet but distant Views; mean while, we shall confine our first 



12 

Endeavours to such easy Benefits, as will (without the smallest 
waiting for the Growth of Plants) be offer' d to our Industry, 
from the spontaneous Wealth, which overruns the Country. 

The Reader may assure himself, our Undertakings upon all 
Occasions, will be the plainest, and most ready Roads to Profit ; 
not Ibrm'd from doubtiul, and untried Conceits, nor hamper'd by 
a Train of Difficulties ; none are more apt than we to disregard 
Chimerical, or rash Designs ; but 'tis the Business of Men's 
Judgment to divide Things ^j/ftin from Tilings unUkeh/. 

We cannot think it proper to be too particular upon this Sub- 
ject, nor will it, w-e suppose, be expected Irom us : One Example, 
however, we will give, because we wou'd present a Proof, that 
much IS pracficaVle there, which lias not yet been yut in Frac- 
tice; we shall Pitch on Pot-ash, a Commodity of great Con- 
sumption in the Trades of Dying, Glass-maJcing, Soap-hoiUng 
and some others ; not that this is the only present Prospect 
which we build on, but as 'tis necessary we shou'd particularize 
one Benefit, that others may be credible. 

And here it will not be amiss, if we describe what Pot-ash is, 
and iiow they make it ; since, 'tis likely, som.e may have attempt- 
ed it already, in the Forests of America, and miscamed, by 
depending upon ignorant Undertakers. 

It is not very properly indeed call'd Pot-ash, not being any 
kind of yh':c.s, but the fix'd, and vegetable Sah of Ashes, which, 
if mix'd with Water, melts away, and turns to Lye; For this 
Reason 'tis preferr'd to all other Lixiviate Ashes, Foreign, or 
Domestick, which, not being perfect Salts, but Ashes of Bean- 
Straw, and other Vegetables, made stronger by the Help of Lye, 
bear no Proportion, as to Price, with Pot-ash itself, which is, as 
we said before, tb.e pure Sah without any of the Ashes. 

To procure this Salt, in Russia, and the Countries famous for 
it, tliey burn great Quantities of Oak, Firr, Birch, and other 
Woods, cut down, wlien flourishing, and full of Sap ; The Ashes 
they tlu-ow into Boilers, or huge Caldrons full of Water, and ex- 
tract a thick, sharp Lye by boiling ; They let this Lye grow clear 
by setriing, and then draw it off, and throw away the Ashes lefi 
at Bottom. 

Tais Lye, so clarified, they boil again, and as the Watry Part 
evaporates apace, they supply the Waste thro' a small Pipe, from 
anotiier Vessel of the same Sort of Lye, set higher than the 
Boiler ; At last, by a continued Evaporation, the whole Vessel 
becomes full of a thick brownish Salt, which being dug out in 
Lumps, and afterwards calcin'd, compleats the Work, and gives 
a Colour to the Pot-ash, like a whitish Blue, in which Condition 
it is barrell'd up, and fit for Merchants. 

Nothing can be plainer, or more easy than this Practice in our 



13 

intended Settlement ; As to the Boilers, wliicb have ever been the 
great, and teviitying Expence and Encmubrance of tliis Work, 
we shctli extreamly lessen, and reduce that Charge almost to 
nothing, by some uew Methods, he\n>r an experienc'd Invention, 
wherein we use neither Copjier, Lead, Iron, nor other Mineral 
whatsoever, and (tiiat excepted) there is no Material necessary, 
but i'V'jod only; For Wood cut down, and burnt upon the 
Ground, affords t!ie Ashes; The Rivers every where abounding 
in that Country furnish Water ; Ashes, and Water boil'd together, 
yield tne L:je ; The Lye evaporated, leaves behind the Salt, Siud 
that very Salt calcin'd, becomes the Pot-ash, and it is pack'd, 
and sent away in Barrels, made and hoop'd there also. 

From due Consideration of these Circumstances, it appears, 
that tiiis must be a rich, and gainful Undertaking in a Country 
w! ere the greatest Quantities of Timber, and the finest in the 
World, cost nothing but the Pains of cutting down, and burning, 
on the Banks of Navigable Rivers ; where the enlivening influ- 
ence of the Sun prepares the Trees much better for this Practice, 
than in colder Climates, and where stubbing up the Woods, 
which coverall the Settlement, will give a sure, and double Bene- 
fit ; for first they yield this \ aluable Traflick Potash, and afterwards 
leave clear the Ground, they grow on, for producing yearly Crops 
of such Commodities, as are most profitable, and fittest for the 
Country. 

Thus, having faintly touch'd the outward Lines, and given 
some Prospect of our Purpose, we proceed to the Conditions, 
upon which we will admit of Purchasers. 



The PROPOSAL. 

■^ OTE that, for the Purchasers Security, and effectually ma- 
*■ king good their Claims, as well to the Land, which they shall 
buy, as to all the other Benefits propos'd in the following Articles, 
Tlie whole Country, and its Improvements in all Times to come, 
is settled as a Mortgage and made liable in manner, as here un- 
der recited, in which such unusual, and equitable Regard has 
been had, for avoiding all Charge, or Delay, in Respect to the 
Distance of Countries, and the Difficulties, A\hich might thence 
be suspected to arise, in obtaining Satisfaction by the ordinary 
Course of the Laws, that nothing of Foryn, or Kxpence will be 
necessary ; but, on the first Breach of Covenant, an Easy and 
immediate Possession may be taken of the forfeited Province, 
and for ever maintain'd against all kind of Pleas or Pretences for 
the use of the Purchasers. And, that perpetual and unobjec- 
tionable Testimony may remain, for the more absolute securing the 



14 

Rights of the Purchasers, the following Deed, together with the 
Articles themselves, stands enrolled in the High Court of Chan- 
cery. 

ri^O All to whom these Presents shall come I Robert Mount- 
-* gomry of Skelmorley in tlie Sheridom of Aire in JSorth- 
Britain Baronet send Greeting. Whereas Kis Excellency the 
Lord Carteret Palatine^ and the Rest of the true and absolute 
Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina in America have 
by their Grant, bearing Date the Nineteenth Day of June last, 
bargain'd, sold, alien'd, releas'd, enieolT'd, and confirm'd to Me 
the abovemention'd Sir Robert Motintgomry, my lieirs, and As- 
signs, all that Tract of Land in their said Province, whicli lies 
between the Rivers Atlatamaha and Savanna, and erected the 
said Tract into a distinct Province, wtih proper and independant 
Jurisdiction^, under the Name and Title of the Mcrgravate of 
Aziiia, to be held of them the Lords Pi'oprietors of Carolina 
by me, my Heirs and Assigns for ever ; and whereas for better 
carrying on my design of transporting People and making a new 
Settlement in the said Margravate ; I have made and caused to 
be publish'd tlie Proposals hereunto annex'd, Now Therefore for 
securing the Advantages proposed in tlie said Articles to all, who 
shall or may Subscribe any Sum or Sums of Money for the Pur- 
chase of Lands and Profits in the Margravate of Aziiia afore- 
said, and shall on their parts, make good the Payments and Con- 
ditions mention'd in the Articles, I the abovenamed Sir Robert 
Mountgomry do, by these Presents to be enroll'd in the High Court 
of Chancery, in perpetual Proof and Testimony of the Security 
hereby design'd to be conveyed, engage, bind, mortgage, assign, 
and firmly make subject the said Grant, Lands, and benefits for 
making Good the Uses in the said Articles expres'd m Manner, 
as at large herein under describ'd : And I do hereby declare and 
consent, that the Instruments sign'd by my Hand writing as reci- 
ted in the seventh Article, shall be deem'd and they are by vir- 
tue of these Presents declar'd to be, a firm, and sufficient Proof 
of Title to the respective Claim therein mention'd to be convey'd 
by and upon the Security by these Presents provided ; And I do 
hereby authorize and appoint David Kennedy, Esq ; in my Ab- 
sence to fill up, and deliver the said Instruments with all efi'ectual 
Authority, and irrevocable Right of Representation, which by 
Letter of Attorney, or by any other Form or Means whatever, 
can or might be deputed to Him, And I declare myself obliged, 
as to the sufficiency of the Writings delivered by such Act of 
the said David Kennedy, Esq ; as firmly as if I had in Person 
fiU'd and deliver'd the said Writings ; And in Case that I Sir 
Robert Mountgomry, or my Heirs, or Assigns, or any claiming 
Right, or exercising Power by, from, or under me, shall at any 



15 

time lierealter refuse to submit to the said annex'd Articles or to 
any of them, or shall under any unjust Pretence whatsoever 
forbear the Cultivation of the Purchasers Lands, or consign the 
annual Products, arising therelrom, or any Part of the same, to 
anv other i^erson, or Persons, than to tlie Factor, or Factors, who 
shall be appointed by the Purchasers, or to Persons approved by 
them, or shall refuse, or deny admission, Residence, or ocular 
satisfaction on the Spot to any Agent, whom the Purchasers may 
at any time think lit to send over for that Purpose; In any of 
these Cases the Purchasers shall, by virtue of these Presents 
(any Form of Law, Usage, Custom, or Pretence to the contrary 
notwithstanding) have a warrantable, and incontrovertible Right, 
and Authority, to procure, and obtain present Justice to them- 
selves in Manner following, That is to say: — Upon such Breach of 
Covenant the said Purchasers shall, or may meet upon the Sum- 
mons of the Party injur'd, or of any other Person interested, 
and by a Majority of the Voices present elect a Committee of 
Three, which Committee shall draw up a State of the Case they 
complain of. And present it to me, or my Heirs or Assigns, or to 
any Agent acting for me, or them, or any of them in London, or 
elsewhere, and if within ten Days after such Presentation they 
receive not due Satisfaction from such Person, or Agent, they shall 
leave Notice in Writing at the Place of his dwellhig, or publish 
in the Gazette, or other Authentick News Letter, that on some 
day therein to be named, they design to lay the State of their 
Case before the Kings Attorney General, and Solicitor General 
in London for tlie Time being, in order to have their Opinion, 
whether the Fact they complain of be, or be not not a Breach of 
any Part of the Articles hereunto annex'd, that so the said Per- 
son, or Agent may attend if he shall have any thing to offer, in 
Defence of the Matter complain'd of, And if upon the Question, 
the Attorney and Solicitor General shall joyn in Opinion and 
give it under their Hands, that the Cause of Complaint does 
plainly appear in their Judgements to be a Breach of the Articles 
subscribed to, and such Person, as above described, or some Agent 
acting for Him, shall not forthwith make due satisfaction, such 
Forbearance to do Justice in the Case, shall after Thirty Days 
next following the date of the said written Opinion, become an 
absolute Forfeiture of the Grant, and from thenceforth all Lands, 
Prerogatives, Priviledges, Powers, and Benefits, whatsoever held, 
claim'd, or enjoy'd by virtue of the said Grant, shall be taken 
Possession of for the sole future Use of the Body of Purchasers, 
and shall be cany'd on to their general Advantage, and according 
to their Orders, and Direction, by any Person, or Persons whom 
they shall chuse by a Majority of their Voices, and send over to 
that Purpose : And that no possible Let, or Impediment, on my 



16 

Part, or the Part of my Heirs, or Assigns, may in any sort in- 
commode, or prevent the most strict and immediate Performance 
of this Covenant, I the said Sir Robert do hereby renounce for 
myself, and all claiming from me, all Pleas, Prerogati\ es, Pri- 
viledges and Pretences whatsoever, which I, or they, may by the 
said Grant, or by any Form, Custom, or Mode of Proceedmg at 
Law be possess'd of, or entitled to ; And I do consent and de- 
clare, that when the written Opinion abovemention'd of the 
Attorneij, and Solicitor General in London, shall be produc'd 
to tiie Lords Proprietors of Carolina, and sei.t o^er to their De- 
puties at Charles Town, and be eiiter'd in t ;eir Jour al, It sh.all 
stand as a determinate Judgment recorded against lae, or them, 
after whicJi no Appeal shall be lawful, and possession srall be 
given immediately, that is to say, no otlier Process shall be need- 
ful than twenty Days Notice fro'n the Gover our, and Council at 
Chades-Town abovemention'd: From which Time for ever, if 
full Satisfaction be not made within tlie said twenty Days, as well 
in the jMatter complain'd of, as by Payment of all Costs, and 
Damages sustained by the Complainants, ti]e Purcv^asers sliall in 
Riglit of themselves, and by Virtue of these Picserts, possess, 
occupy, and enjoy all Manner of Authorities, Territories, and 
Advantages of what kind Soever, arising from the Grant above- 
said, and I the said Sir Robert MotmtgoiHri;, my Heirs, and As- 
signs sliall effectually stand excluded, bodi in Law, and in Equity, 
to all Intents and Purposes, as if the said Grant had never been 
made. In Witness wlsereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and 
seal this Fifteenth Day of July, in the T ird Year of tise Reign 
of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, of Great 
Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &fc. 
Annoq ; Domini, 1717. 

JR. Mountgomry. 
Art. I. The first fifty thousand Acres, which sliall be run 
out, settled, or planted, shall be always kept, as a distinct Divi- 
sion, separate from the rest of the Margravate, and shall all be 
clearVl, and iinprov'd before any ot!.er Setdement is made, or 
suffer'd in any Part of the Margravate, and a Riglit will be sold 
by Virtue of the proposed Subscription, to all tiie Profits arising 
from twenty five Thousand of those Acres, when the fifty Thou- 
sand shall be clear'd ; and in the mean time to half tlie yearly 
Amount of the whole Profit which shall be u^ade by the Colony, 
which Sale will be made in Acres, (more or less at the Discretion 
of the Buyer, only nothing less tlian five Acres) at the Rate of 
forty Shillings per Acre : And tho' the whole shou'd not be pur- 
chased, yet tie Books shall, notwithstanding, be shut up forthwith, 
that so no Time may be lost, and tlie then Nsimber of Purch.asers, 
be they never so few, shall compose the Body, and enjoy their 



17 

Proportional Benefits, as fully as if the whole had been cotn- 
pleated. 

Art. II. Tlie Land thus bought, is not to be cultivated at 
the Charge of the Buyer ; but the yearly Profits of it shall for 
ever be brought Home to the Purchasers, their Heirs or Assigns, 
in the Ships of the Margravate, and paid them in regular Divi- 
dends. 

Art III. The Purchase Money, that is to say, the forty 
ShiUingsper Acre abovementiou'd, shall be paid one half down, 
and the other half, not till the first Return of the Shipping, and 
after a Dividend of Profit made among the Purchasers, by Sale of 
such Goods or Products as the said Ships bring over v»ith tiiem. 

Art. IV. This first Return, and the whole yearly Produce 
for ever, of the first settled fifty Tliousand Acres, or so much 
thereof, as shall at any time be clear'd, and cultivated, si .ah al- 
ways come consign'd to the Purchasers Factors, for the Time 
being, or their Agents, or to Persons of their Appointment or 
Approbation, and shall be sold by tlicm, or by Brokers of their 
chusing, which Brokers shall account with them the said Factors 
or their Agents, for the Purchasers Half tlie Profits, and with the 
Agents of Sir Robert Mouiitgomry, or his Assigns, for the other 
Half. Provided always that a Preference be given to any Buyer 
nam'd by the said Sir Robert, or his Assigns, or his or their 
Agents, on Condition however that such Buyer shall give a better 
Price than lias before been ofler'd. 

Art. V. That on the Death, or Surrender of the Factors, 
or upon Dislike of their Management, it is always to be under- 
stood that a Majority of the Purchasers shall have Power to 
chuse new ones in their Places. 

Art. VI. That on closing the Book of Subscription, due 
Notice shall be given, and the Purchasers shall meet, and chuse 
by r\Iajority of Voices, (every twenty Acres entidingtoa Vote) 
such Person or Persons as they think best qualified to act, as 
their Factors, in the Trust abovementiou'd, and such Factor, or 
Factors, shall in Consideration of tlieir Trouble, he allow'd over 
and above their necessary Charges in the Management, such 
Gratuity as tlie Purchasers think reasonable out of tiie respective 
Dividends, which they from Time to Time, shall pay to the said 
Purchasers. 

Art. VII. On Payment of the first Half the Purchase Mo- 
ney, the Purchasers shall severally receive an Instrument inFonn 
following. 

This witnesseth, that A. B. did on this Day of 

1717. Subscribe the Sum of Pounds, towards Establish- 
ment of a new Colony, in the Margravate of Azilia in Carolina, 
and paid down one half of the said Sum: in Consideration where- 



.«^ 



18 

of, and of the remaining Half to be paid, as by the Articles 
provided, the said A. B. is for himself, his Heirs, or Assigns 

admitted as Proprietor of Acres of Land in the said Mar- 

gravate. The whole Rents, Products, Profits, and Advantages of 

which ' — Acres are absolutely vested in the said A. B. his 

Heirs, or Assigns for ever, as they shall arise, and accrue yearly ,■ 
by virtue of a General Management, as by the Articles provided, 
at the Cost of Sir Robert Mountgomry , or his Assigns, without 
Charge, or Trouble to the said Proprietor under tlie Penalties 
Gxpress'd and covenanted in a Deed to that End executed and 
enroird in the High Court of Chancery, for perpetual Proof of 
the Security therein provided. In Witness whereof, I the above- 
mention'd Sir Robert Mountgomry^ have hereunto set my Hand, 
the Day and Year first above-written. 

JR. Mountgomry^ 
Art. Vni. And for Encouragement of those, who shall 
considerably Interest themselves in this Affair. Whoever shall 
Subscribe the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds, for Purchase of 
two hundred and fifty Acres, as abovemention'd, shall, over and 
above his yearly Profits from the said two Hundred and Fifty 
Acres, be entitled to one of the Estates of a Mile Square, or 640 
Acres, in the first District, which shall be settled, as in the Cut 
describ'd. And shall for himself, his Heirs, and Assigns for ever^ 
be put in Possession of the said Estate of 640 Acres, together 
with a House built on it, and the Ground ready clear'd to his 
Hand, without any Chai'ge to him, or his Assigns, as soon as such 
first District shall be measur'd out, and settled; The said Estate 
to be cultivated at his Pleasure and for his Profit, by Himself, or 
his Agents, on Condition only, that if he shall not hiniself think 
fit to go over, and inhabit it, the Person he sends over in his 
Stead, shall be no ordinary Overseer, but a Gentleman well 
qualified, of a liberal E-ducation, v/ho is married, and carries 
with him a genteel well bred Family. 

Art. IX. Over and above the Regard, which may naturally 
be expected to the Recommendation of Purchasers, in Disposal 
of Offices, and furnishing the various Supplies from Time to Time 
needful, it will be fit that some particular Encouragement be 
given to such, as shall be early Promoters of the Undertaking; 
because in this, as in all great Affairs, Expedition is the main 
Life of Business, and the necessary Preparations will require so 
much Time, that if the Subscription is suddenly com])leated, it 
will turn to tlie extraordinary Benefit of the Design, and all con- 
cern'd in it; It is therefore hereby made an Article, that the first 
hundred Subscribers (to be known by the Numbers on their In- 
struments) whether tliey Subscribe more, or less, shall have, and 
be firmly entitled in all Dividends, to an additional Share of Profit; 



idler the Rale of one Acre over and above every ten Acres the) 
buy, and so for more or less hi Propoition; to be paid them out 
of the Undertaker's Part of every Dividend by then- own Factors 
or Agents: As for Instance, a Purchaser of 100 Acres, if his 
Ticicet of Purchase bears any Number from 1 to J 00, shall not, 
at the Dividends, receive in Pro|)ortion to the 100 Acres he 
bought, but as if they were 110 Acres: by Virtue of tlie 10 
Acres additionally annex'd to his Quota by Virtue of this Article. 
And so it shall be understood of any difierent Quantity pur- 
chas'd, from five Acres upwards. 



A more partmdar Explanation of the Benefits of this 
FroposaL 

■^'T'lS impossible to give a firmer Title, than is hereby made 
•*• both to the Lands, and their Profits, since the whole Coun- 
try, with all its Improvements, in all Times to come, is engag'd 
as a Mortgage, and will be forfeited into the Purchaser's Hands 
on Non-performance of the Covenants, and as to the Rate of the 
Purchase, 'tis the cheapest that ever was heard of: For it must 
be observ'd, that the Forty Shillings ^c/' Acre is not a Consider- 
ation for the Land only, to be cultivated afterwards at the Charge 
of the Buyer, but on the contrary, it is the first, and last Ex- 
pence, not only of the Land, but its perpetual Profit; so that for 
what IS once laid out, a Man has, every Year, brought Home to 
his Door, by other People's Care and Charge, and without the 
least Trouble to Himself, but That of receiving the Money, the 
Produce and Profit of so many Acres of the finest Land in the 
World, as he thus pays Forty Shillings a piece for; and this is to 
continue, not only during his own Life, but to Descend for ever 
to his Heirs, or those, to whom he shall assign his Interest. And, 
that the Benefits of this Proposal may as well reach those who 
are willing to spare but a little, as those who shall incline to 
Subscribe large Sums, we have therefore fix'tl the lowest Quan- 
tity at five Acres ; By which Means People who cannot, or who 
care not to venture much, may become concern'd lor only five 
Pound down, and five Pound more after the first Dividend of 
Profit, at Return of the Shipping; and this will we hope be of 
General Advantage, since the Benefit being made diffusive, will 
reach Numbers who had else been shut out ; And with that View 
we have permitted it against the Opinions of a few: Since a Man 
who is able to spare but 10 or 20/. and does afterwards sell his 
Interest for two or three hundred, will much more feel the Benefit 
than one, who being able to subscribe larger Sums, makes a Pro- 
fit in Equal Proportion. 



20 

And here, tjio* \vc utterly disapprove all swelling, and over- 
rated Computations, it will be some satisfaction to give as rational 
a Guess, as Tilings to come admit of, after vrhat proportion Pur- 
chasers may calculate their Profit, by the most modest Expecta- 
tion ; for tho' tls impossible exactly to state these Accounts, before 
they arc put to the Trial, yet such Computations as are fairly, 
and impartially Drawn, are at least so far Useful, as to give some 
Idea to the Reader, of what he may otlierwise perhaps be utterly 
ignorant in the very Nature and Meaning of. 

It will be allow'd witliout Argument, that Three working Men 
may bo carried over, and maintain'd one whole Year round, for 
every Hundied Pound in the Stock; And so a purchaser, for 
every Hundred Pounds, he subscribes, will the first Year be 
entitled to Half what is gain'd by Tliree Men's constant Labour 
the whole Yeali- about. The other Half remaining to the Un- 
dertakers, to supply Encrease of People, and the necessary 
Charges of their Maintenance, and Government. 

The Practice of our Colonies all over America, has made it 
undeniable, that the Labour of a Man, for one Year, no otherway 
employ'd, will clear, at least, four Acres; It must be observ'd, 
that we do not suppose him to cultivate the four Acres, but only 
to cut, and bum down the Trees, which grow there; By this 
Account such a Purchaser's first Year's Claim will be the Profit 
of Six Acres (Half Three Mens Labour for That Year) And 
his Second Year advancing in Proportion, after Allowance for all 
Kinds of Hazard, there arises a great, and uncommon Advantage. 
For not to urge that the Designs, we sliall employ our Men in, 
are such, as may be fairly expected to produce far greater Profit, 
than the overstock'd and beaten Practices, in Use at Present, we 
will take as our Example, the most common, known Product of 
South Carolina Herself, and That is Rice ; This is, at least, one 
Crop with another worth Six Pounds per Acre ; we will state it, 
however, but at four Pounds, and out of that allow Deduction 
of one Pound for Freight Home, and Duty ; so the Puichaser 
receives but Three Pounds neat from each Acre. 

Thus, all the Land clear'd, a Man, whose Purchase Money 
was a Hundred Pounds, for fifty Acres, must receive a Hundred, 
and fifty Pound per Ammm for ever, as the Profit of it ; but we 
are not desirous of laying more weight than tlie Reader, on the 
Exactness of such Calculations; A Thousand Accidents, not 
easily foreseen, will still vary these Events, sometimes for the 
better, sometimes for the Worse ; we leave People's Expectation 
to be determin'd by their Reason, tho' even Men of Diffidence 
will we think be asham'd to disallow a Computation so low, as 
Three Pounds per Acre, from such Land in such a Climate. 

But it may be objected that we compute on a Supposition of 



21 

all the Land clcar'd, and iniprov'd by Cultivation, A\hoi-eas it 
may be some Years before the Woods, which over-run it, are 
Fell'd, and the Earth fit for Sowing; 'Tis true, to clear all the 
Land will require some Time, But while That is doing we make 
all our Potash beforementionVl, of the waste Wood cut down, to 
clear the Land, and the Profit from an Acre that way, will be so 
much greater, tlian from any yearly Crop, that Purchasers may 
reasonably expect as large gain the very first Year, from a few 
Acres only, as afterwards from all their Land, cleared and culti- 
vated. 

A word or two, to explahi this Assertion, which may look like 
a Mystery, and we shall draw to a Conclusion. 

When Workmen have nothing to do, but fell Great Trees cross 
one another, and as soon as dry, set Fire to them, that they may 
be burnt to Ashes, tis demonstrable beyond all Dispute, that 
Three Men so employ'd, in Twelve Months constant Work, must 
cut down more Wood than can grow on Twelve Acres. 

If therefore we state it but at twelve Acres, it is a Rate of 
computing which can admit of no reasonable Contradiction ; And 
to shew how much Potash this will yield, it is plain from Expe- 
rience and any Reader who doubts, may examine it at his Pleasure 
for the Charge of a Faggot, That the Weight of any good Wood 
Ashes amounts to aljout a Sixteenth of the Wood, they are burnt 
from; and the Weight of the Potash, which will be produc'd 
from those Ashes, is from a Sixth, to an Eighth of the Weight 
of the Ashes; But allowing at large, for loss, waste, and acci- 
dents, call the Sixteenth a Twe:ntieth,'aiX\^l\\e Sixth a Tenth only. 

For Quantity of Wood, say there grows on an Acre, so 
cover'd with huge Tmiber Trees, but four Hundred Tun; we 
have often much more (Bark, Timber, and Brushwood) on an 
Acre in England; It is therefore an unexceptionable Computation 
for America, where the date of the Woods, instead of Years, 
must be reckoned by Ages. Then the Wood of an Acre yields 
two Tun of Potash, and the whole Year's Labour of Thrae Men 
employ'd in cutting down, and burning on Twelve Acres, and 
boiling and managing the Ashes, will produce 24 Tun of Potash, 
which being a Commodity of Universal Consumption, cannot 
easily over stock Markets, at least not from far greater Quantities 
of Wood Land, than we ai-e here talking of. 

The general Price of such Potash, being the Richest, and 
Best, is from Forty to Sixty Pounds Sterling per Tun, but we 
will reduce it to Twenty, for Arguments Sake, tho' such a Fall is 
improbable for such a Commodity, (Some of our own English 
Ashes, which have not a Ath Part good Potash, yielding that 
Price or more) The 24 Tun will then sell for Four Hundred and 
Eighty Pounds , If out of this Sum we allow for payment of 



2.5^ 

Freight, and Custom House Duties, <^c. at the most extravagant 
Reckoning, we may deduct on that Score One Hundred and 
Eighty pounds, and then out of the remaining Three Hundred, 
One Hundred and fifty Pounds will be due to tlie Purciiaser 
in Ens;land, as the tirst Year's clear Profit of his Hundred Pound 
Venture, and That Profit will be every Year growing greater, 
and greater. 

We repeat here once again, that we wou'd not impose the 
punctual Exactness of such Calculations, as a Matter of Infalli- 
bility ; The utmost Men can do in these Cases, is lairly to lay 
down Probabilities, and Tliat we have done undeniably, notwith- 
standing the Giant-like size of the Benefit , and we shou'd perhaps 
far more Suprize, if we varied the Subject, and computed on 
some other of our Intentions: A man wou'd make but a very 
indifferent Use of his Caution, who shou'd neglect an uncommon 
Advantage, without some better Reason against it, than that tlie 
Prospect of Profit was too Great to he credited; But be that as 
it will. Here is Room enough for Profit, let Men reduce it, as they 
please, nor indeed is Profit, how Great soever, the only Motive to 
Men of Noble IMinds ; There is in an Attempt of this Nature, 
something more to recommend it, to all those, who take a Plea- 
sure in things publick Spirited, and Useful to Posterity. 

If then what we have said is not sufficient Encouragement, 
whatever we can say, will be said to no Purpose, so we only shall 
add our most earnest Entreaty, that every Reader would narrowly 
scan both the Facts, and the Reasonings here ofFer'd, and let it be 
done with the sharpest Attention, and Severity of his Judgment; 
for we are justly convinc'd, that They, who examine them most, 
will most firmly believe them. 



POSTSCRIPT. 

THO' all, that I think can possibly be expected by a reasonable 
Reader, has been said in the short Tract foregoing, I find my 
self advis'd to add a Word, or two by way of Postscript, for 
Satisfaction of some, who may be apt to object, that tho' the 
Lands, which are bought, will be more than an Equivalent for 
the Money Subcrib'd, when those Lands shall be settled, and 
planted, yet as they are of no such Value in their present Con- 
dition, and as the Subscribers should have all possible Security, 
that the Settlement shall really be made as proposed, they may 
therefore expect, that over and above the Assignment of the 
Lands, the Money they subscribe, shou'd, instead of being paid 
into my Hands, be deposited in those of Trustees, for the Uses 
intended. 



^"3 

Tho' I cannot but hope, that such kind of Suspicions will 
taever disturb any Person, to whom I am known, yet 1 thoufi;ht .' 
but reasonable to SUitc the Objection, and Answer it, for th 
Sakes of such Readers, who, being equally Strangers to my Per 
Son, and Character, may justly enough, entertain the Distrusts, 
which are conunon, and allowable in Matters of Money, and 
Bargainings. 

It will be granted, that it signifies little into whose Hands the 
Money is paid, if it is but apply'd to the Purpose intended; and 
as I neither expect, nor Desire the Subscription of any, but such, 
who, by weighing the Design, are iully con\anc'd, that it is ivell 
founded, and profitable, so it follows, as a necessary Consequence, 
that a// s?icA must think their Money best placed in his Hands, 
whose Profit, Honour, and Success must depend upon That of 
the Undertaking, and who may therefore be naturally suppos'd 
more careful, and dilligent than others wou'd be, in the Aj)plica- 
tion of the IMoney, because always most interested, in the Effect 
oj that Application. 

This Reason is so good, that it might alone be sufficient, if 
there was not another as considerable, which arises from the fol- 
lowing Reflection. 

Where Trustees are to act in Matters of Care, Form, or 
Equity, it must be confess'd, they are not only useful, but neces- 
sary; But when they are tmsted, as in our Case they would be, 
with a Deposite of Money, and a Power to see it apply'd to a 
Purpose, in which they are no otherwise concern'd, than as Ad- 
venturers among others, (to say nothing of the Impossibility to 
chuse such, as would be equally agreeable to all) the Temptations 
are many, and but too well known, which may make it their In- 
terest to find means of Cavil under plausible Pretences for delay- 
ing the Business, and Detainment of the Money, as long as the 
Managers shall see it convenient for their private Advantages. 

A wise Man will therefore very easily discern, and approve of 
Oiy Reasons for not dividing the Power of the Money, from the 
Power of the Management, since on this only Rock might be 
split a more promising Adventure, than was ever undertaken. 

If I did not believe, that every Body's Experience can furnish 
blm with Instances enough, in the daily Destructions of well laid 
Designs, through the idle Disputes, and Disagreements of those, 
who are carrying them on, it were easy to illustrate the Fact by 
a thousand Examples. 

But, as none, I presume, will deny a known Truth, I will In- 
stance but One, which is the fitter for my Purpose, because it is 
taken, not only from a Parallel Case, but was acted in the ver\ 
next Country to that, which is the Scene of our Settlement. 

The first Attempts, which were made for the settling an En- 



'24 

ij^lish Plantation in Virginia, were carried on by the privat<> 
Subscriptions of Gentlemen and others, who thought it their 
Interest by Way of Sccmity, to entrust the Disposal of their 
Money, to certain Men of the best Publick Credit among them, 
who were chosen Trustees, and transacted all Matters at Home 
in the Name of the Body. Mean while, the Command of their 
Colonies was committed to such Great, and Brave Men, as Sir 
Mealier Raleigh and others, who Avent over, and settled the 
Country, with all the Appearance of a promising good Fortune; 
but just in the Crisis, when their Houses were Built, Lands 
prepared, and nothing was wanting, but the expected Arrival of 
Ships with the necessary Supplies of Ammunition, and Provision, 
they were all Starved to Death, or cut off by the Indians with a 
shocking Barbarity. For the Gentlemen in England, wliile they 
shou'd have laid out the Money subscribed, and sent over the 
Supplies abov^emention'd, were quarreling with one another, 
who should make most Advantage, by furnishing such Goods, as 
where wanted, or helping others to do it: In which, and the like 
kind of Follies, they wasted sometimes two, three, or more Years, 
till their poor starving Colonies fell a Sacrifice to their Inhuman- 
ity and Avarice. 

Nor was this Game play'd but once, and then mended; on the 
Contrary, from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, to that of King 
Charles the First, they repeated the Extravagance in numberless 
Trials, and lost six, or seven different Colonies, not to mention 
the Money, they had so warily ventur'd, into the Bargain, by no 
other Error, or Miscarriage, than that the Disposal of their Stock 
did not lie in the same Hands, which had the Management of their 
Authority ; and this was so visible a Truth, that King Charles 
abovemention'd, as a Punishment of their Indiscretion, depriv'd 
them of then- Charter; and ever after that, the Purse, and the 
Power being join'd, as they ought, Virginia throve apace, till it 
grew the most flourisliing, and mighty of all our Plantations in 
America. 

This remarkable Instance ought to serve, as a Warning to all. 
who embark in these noble Designs, not to run into Losses by 
mistaken Endeavours, and ill-guided Cautions to avoid them; 
The Reader may apply the Advice, as he pleases, But we 
would have none concern'd with us, whose establish'd Opinion 
of the Nature of this Undertaking does not set him above all 
mean, and unnecessary Jealousies. R' Mountgomry. 

The Subscription Book will be open'd at the Carolina Coffee- 
House in Birchin-Lane near the Royal-Etchange, on Thurs- 
day the First Day of August next, and Attendance will be 
given frow 9 to 12, and from 3 to 6 Daily. 

FINIS. 



LB W 



